PGA TOUR China Returning to Regular Circuit

While most people think of the PGA TOUR when they think about golf circuits, there are also several developmental circuits that the PGA sponsors. And now, one is coming back after a short layoff.

It was announced on Wednesday that the Chinese Series will be coming back for a full circuit in 2018. Asia typically doesn’t support many major golf events, so the Chinese Series is something that helps spread the sport to across the world and to new audiences. This is especially true in China, where golf has a negative connotation and been banned to a certain extent multiple times.

Originally starting back in 2013 after the HSBC Champions tournament, the only World Golf Classic event played in Asia, the Chinese Series was a PGA TOUR developmental league up until last year when it was discontinued. Discussions about events and purses delayed the 2017 season until it was scratched but the circuit is a go for 2018 with more events and prizes than ever before.

Xinjun Zhang of China, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, China Golf…

Xinjun Zhang of China, PGA TOUR Commissioner Jay Monahan, China Golf Association President Zhang Xiaoning and Zecheng Douof China attend the PGA TOUR press conference during the pro-am prior to the… Get premium, high resolution news photos at Getty Images

”These will be brand new tournaments, providing players with more opportunity to participate, as well as to establish a route for China golfers to get through and into the world stage of golf,” said Zhang Xiaoning, CGA President. ”The development of golf tournaments here is not only helping the tour itself but also to help China develop better and more professional golfers and to raise the interest of our citizens to the sport of golf.”

The Chinese Tour has also had several successes in developing players. Zecheng Dou and Xinjun Zhang, in particular, were top performers for PGA TOUR China and earned the opportunity to join the Web.com Tour. Dou won on the Web.com Tour this year and Zhang had two runner-up finishes. Both finished in the top 25 money list, earning PGA TOUR cards for 2018.

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So while it may not be the most exciting series of golf, PGA TOUR China is helping to develop young Chinese golfers into pros. And now that it will return next year, the next wave of young players could get their start in China.

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